Do native salmon really return to spawn in the streams where they hatched?
Generally, yes. The salmon’s strongly developed sense of place no doubt helped make it a symbol of the Pacific Northwest. But in the last several seasons, biologists have been discovering a new trend: increasing numbers of salmon stopping early, heading up streams on the Olympic Peninsula. One theory suggests that salmon, like humans, may have a desire to make things easier on the next generation. Q: The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is a true gem of the Cascades. Will its status as a wilderness area protect it forever? A: That’s the goal, but one never knows. Many typical forest activities – logging, drilling, mining, dam-building and heavy construction – are usually no-no’s in wilderness areas, but some relaxation of the rules may be considered if the Forest Service is successful in its bid to host “Survivor 2002” in the Enchantment Lakes basin. Two large meeting halls proposed for the hit series might be left in place as an interpretive center and a Starbucks, although builders promi
